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Man shot by AG police pleads insanity

A carjacking suspect shot by Arroyo Grande police after allegedly charging at an officer with a knife pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the charges brought against him by the SLO County District Attorney's Office.

Christopher William Allen, 48, originally pleaded not guilty to the six criminal charges filed against him in connection with the Aug. 26, 2016, incident, but he amended his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity at a June 4 hearing. The charges against Allen include assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon, carjacking, attempted carjacking, and assault with a deadly weapon.

According to police officials, Allen was shot multiple times by AG police Sgt. Shane Day after an encounter near the U.S. Highway 101 on-ramp at Grand Avenue. Police said that Allen, wielding a knife, attempted to rob an elderly man and carjack another individual at a nearby convenience store. When the officer confronted Allen, he allegedly brandished his knife in a threatening manner and charged, failing to heed commands to stop. Allen was taken to a local hospital for treatment and survived the shooting. Investigators from the SLO County District Attorney's Office cleared Day in connection with the shooting.

According to court records, a psychiatrist was appointed to evaluate Allen's mental status in April. The evaluation was submitted to the court in late May, but the judge in the case made no finding on whether Allen was competent to stand trial. After Allen amended his plea, the court appointed two more psychiatrists to evaluate his sanity. The court expects to receive a report from those doctors on June 11.